Materials needed:

• An inexpensive 5 or 6 inch woven basket, with or without a handle
• Green sheet moss, about 28 inches square. One whole piece or several smaller pieces
• A 2 inch foam brush
• 8 oz. white glue
• A glue pot. A plastic take-out container works well.
• 3 12 inch # 28 green florist wires.
• 2 or 4, 15 to 20 inch twiggy stems. Bridal wreath or lowbush blueberry are great.
• Garden clippers
• Several sheets of newspaper
• optional: Raffia or ribbon

Project time; 1 hour

Attaching the Handle

• Cut two or four multi-twigged branches , 15 to 20 inches long. Remove any leaves.
• Spread newspaper over your workspace.
• If the basket has a handle, cut it off.
• The twiggy handle is made by wiring the branches onto a rib of the basket. To choose a rib, hold the basket in front of you. Looking down into the basket, notice the ribs radiating out from the center of the base and up the basket sides. Select a rib.
• Lay the cut end of your branch inside the basket on top of the chosen rib. The bottom of the branch should be following the slight curve of the rib as it runs down the inside of the basket to the base.
• Hold the bottom 2 inches of the branch firmly against the rib.with one hand. With the other hand, bend one of the wires into a big hairpin or “U” shape.
• Beginning on the inside if the basket, place the ends of the wire on either side of the branch.
  Push both ends thru the basket weave to the outside. Pull the wire tight around the branch. Twist the two legs of the wire sharply together at the point they emerge from the basket. There will be two long legs of wire left.
• Thread the two wires back thru the basket, one leg emerging on either side of the branch. Twist the wires together sharply against the branch.
• Repeat the threading process, working the wire up the stem as you push and twist. Continue until the branch is firmly tied or “shoelaced” to the inside of the basket.
• Trim off any excess wire . Tuck the sharp ends under the branch.
• Trace the rib to the opposite side of the basket. Wire the other shrubby branch firmly into place.
• Pull the tops of the branches together to form an arch, creating the look of two trees grown into each other. Snip a wire into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Carefully wire the arch together in two or three key places.

Mossing the basket.

• Pour the glue into the plastic container.
• Spread the moss out on the newspaper. Shake each piece to remove excess dust and soil. Carefully pull any pebbles or thick pieces of bark off the back of the moss.
• Gluing the moss to the basket is similar to piecing a patchwork quilt. Choose the largest, greenest pieces of moss to glue to the inside of the basket. The inside of the basket is usually seen first. Use smaller, browner pieces for the lower sides and base of the basket, where the eye doesn’t often travel. Always begin gluing in the center of the basket.
• Start by arranging a large piece of moss so that it covers part of the basket’s bottom and climbs up the side, folding over the rim and a little down the outside.
  KEY POINT---- The edge of the basket will take the most wear and tear. Never butt pieces of moss at the basket edge. Moss should be placed so the pieces always fold over the edge an inch or more.
• Take the moss out of the basket. Lather glue thickly where the moss lay. Push the moss firmly onto the glued area of the basket. Make a fist. Push against the moss with the back of your fist. The moss must have full, firm contact with the glue in order to stick. It is naturally absorbent and can hold a lot of glue. If an edge or corner of the moss doesn’t stick, lift it up and lather in more glue.
• Fit another piece of moss against the glued piece. Remove, glue the basket and attach the moss.
• Repeat until the basket is covered with moss. Cover the base of the basket last.
  If a piece of moss is to large for a space, tear it to fit. Don’t cut moss. Cutting creates a straight edge that remains visible. Tearing maintains the natural edge. By sliding the natural edges of the moss together, it is possible to create the effect of one unbroken piece.
• Add loops and bows of raffia or ribbon to the basket handle.
• Left in a warm place, the basket will be dry and ready for use in three or four hours.
• Don’t put your basket in direct sunlight for long periods of time . The sun will bleach the moss.